[BFC SITE] Keillor-Dunn: Keep working hard

Fixtures

• Leyton Orient Vs. Barnsley - Fri, Apr 18 2025, 15:00

The Reds face Leyton Orient in Sky Bet League One on Good Friday, Davis Keillor-Dunn sat down with the media to discuss the clash with the media on Thursday.

On being nominated for Sky Bet League One Player of the Season:
Yeah, it feels really good. It’s just nice to get recognised for your hard work throughout the season. It’s a little bittersweet really, because I wish we were still pushing to achieve something this season, but you've just got to control the controllables in football. And yeah, it's really nice to be nominated.

On making the step up to League One with Barnsley this season:
Yeah, I'm quite a confident lad. I won't say too much in the media because some people probably won’t like it, but my agent and my family are always saying keep your feet on the ground. I've got big ambitions in the game, and that's just the way I've always been. I've been at some great academies in my career, and it's always been one aim - to try and get to the top in the game and just keep working hard to see where you're going to get. Like I said, I wish we could have done some great things with Barnsley this season. But yeah, we'll keep going till the end of the season.

On reflection of his personal performances:
I'm still frustrated, to be honest, because with the nominations and stuff, it just makes me want to get more and push towards the top of the running. I've been happy with some of the numbers, but I still sit there at night and just think I need more. I need to try and get further up the table in terms of goals and assists - but ultimately, get the boys moving up the table. That’s the main aim.

On his favourite goal this season:
I liked the one at Bolton away that got us back into the game, then Phillo (Adam Phillips) scored the winner. I liked that one, and I quite enjoyed my first one at Oakwell - that was on my full debut, and it was just nice to get off to a good start. Yeah, there's a couple there. I'm going to kick myself when I finish answering this, because there’ll be another one I like. But just off the top of my head, I was really pleased with those two.

On the possibility of reaching 20 goals for the campaign:
Yeah, everyone keeps telling me that I've got three to go, and I’m running out of games a little bit, to be honest. So I could do with a brace and then give myself a chance of getting that last goal in one of the final games - but I'll just work hard, and if an opportunity comes up, I'll grab it with both hands. Simple as that.

On Conor Hourihane picking up his first win as Interim Head Coach:
I had a quick word with Conor after the game, and he just said, what did you think of the game? I just said I’m delighted, because somebody was going to get it at some point. I think we’ve been playing some good stuff under Con, and honestly, the amount of hard work he puts in through the week - I’m just delighted for him to get that first win. It should have come a lot sooner, to be honest, with some recent performances. But yeah, I was delighted to get that first win, and hopefully we can finish the season really strong. Leyton Orient will be a very, very tough game. They’re doing really well this season, but if we implement some of the things we did against Bolton, I’m sure it shouldn’t be a problem going there and winning.

On Jon Russell and Fábio Jaló:
It just shows that if you work hard... Fabs (Jaló) has had to be so patient this year with injuries and stuff. I think Jon’s been absolutely outstanding all season. He’s been so consistent, chipped in with a lot of goals himself, and it's just testament to how hard the boys have been working off the pitch and on the training field. So yeah, I’m just delighted for those two. It was an absolutely outstanding performance, and hopefully we can finish really strong and get as many goals and wins as we can.

On Fábio Jaló (continued):
I had another chat with Conor about Fabs as well, and we were just saying what a good talent he is and what a career he can have if he keeps his head down and works hard. The ability the kid's got is tremendous - just to get on a man and not have any worries about losing the ball or anything like that. He can score goals, he can create goals. He can be a manager's dream. I just said his decision making has to be there - and that’ll come with age and maturity. So yeah, everyone’s really excited about Fabs, and he's a great lad as well. We're just looking forward to seeing him do really well in the future.

On emulating the Bolton performance:
It just sounds so simple, doesn’t it? I think Saturday as well, we were really good at the ugly side of the game - getting up on it. Luca was fantastic in midfield - just getting on second balls, being aggressive. I think that's a lot of what we’ve lacked this season - just doing the dirty side, landing on second balls, putting it in areas where the opposition don’t want to go. Because we’ve got quality in abundance - that’s no question - but maybe just that other side has let us down a little this year. So yeah, to see that on Saturday was fantastic. And like you said, hopefully we’ll just do exactly the same.

On backing of Conor Hourihane:
His attention to detail is just crazy, to be honest. It really is - I’ve never seen someone so dedicated and focused on a task. Whatever happens, if it’s Conor, we’ll back him to the hill. We all love Con, but that’s not really my decision to make. So, I’ll just focus on my job - but whatever happens, we back Con all the way. We love him here and we’ll give 100% for him.

On looking at personal numbers:
100%, I’m obsessed with numbers - I don’t know what it is. Whenever I score another goal, I look at my stats and just think that’s not enough. I’m just weird. I’ve got to keep going - I can never rest on my laurels. I feel like some players will go into a game thinking it’s fine, I scored last game. I’m not happy with that - I want to get two the next game. It’s a bit strange really, but I think it’s a good thing, you know?

On assisting for his teammates:
I do love an assist. I was a little bit low on assists a few weeks ago, but I've had a few in recent games. My agent always says that as well - you’ve got to get your assists up, you’ve got to keep supplying and ensure you can create goals too. So yeah, I’ve been working on all aspects of my game.

Continue reading...

 

There appears to be a great deal of support amongst the players for Conor as the permanent coach.

 

Few too many references to what is agent is saying there but a good interview anyway. Good to hear that CH is so highly regarded and I do believe that’s genuine and not just a player saying the “right things”.

I really hope he gets to 20 goals and is still with us next year to help our charge for the league title. He’s a great player and one to keep for as long as possible. If not then a Stansfield-like fee should be demanded.

 

Yep speaks to his Agent a lot it seems .

 

There appears to be a large effort by the club to focus on the manager

Look at the highlights from the last home game. Loads of close ups of him. Asking players about him at every opportunity, knowing they're going to praise their boss.

There is a very clever PR campaign going on at oakwell at the moment

 

So it's Con or Conor is it !
Wonder if it was ever Al, Norm, Dan, Val, Dave etc back in the day.

 

He's clearly very ambitious.
I wonder which hill he's backing Conor to: I reckon it'll be Harborough

 

So good that they’ve got Radio Sheffield and Yorkshire Post in on it too…

I don’t disagree that it’s looking like he’s the obvious choice for the owners but you’re like a dog with a bone with Hourihane on here.

 

Winners like working with winners.

 

Should be backing him to the top of the hill, not just to it (though I think it's a miss quote in the article, it should be hilt)

 

Correct.

 

"I wish we could have done some great things with Barnsley this season. But yeah, we'll keep going till the end of the season."

He'll be in the championship next season I think. He deserves the chance seems a great lad.

 

I’ll be very surprised if he’s here next season.

Let’s hope he scores a few more in the games remaining which helps bump up the fee.

 

It’s certainly sounds that way but who knows.

Whenever he does leave us, his transfer fee should be right up there for us. Clearly agents and players have the power in this day and age but he’s on a good contract with us so we need to stand firm. Probably be a grand a month for the next 20 years.

More importantly I hope this shows the board that buying 1 top player from the division below (usually - I guess there’s always risks) beats signing a few from non league.

 

There was a lot of hype regarding us chasing him, and eventually signing him at the end of the August deadline.
And we could argue still that he wasn't and isn't the out and out striker (the Devante Cole replacement) that we really needed.
And apart from a few games where we were thinking what a waste of time and money, and some obvious sour grapes as well from Mansfield etc.
Its clear to see why he's become such a fan favourite after all, and that's what makes it harder in the end, when they do leave us.

 

The best goal scorer we've had since Sammy The Snake.

We had our pants down when we lost STS. This time we need many many millions.